The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1887-06-25

Finally It was decided that the
fedesel' constitution, - now COM
pleted, should be presented to the
continental congress, and then re-
fefred to special conventions in all
the states for ratification and that,
when nine states, or two-thirds of
the whole number, should have
rAti led, it should at once 20 into
operation ~ between such ratify-
ing states.
When tho great document was
at last drafted by Gouverneur Nor
yis, and vas all ready for the sigma
lures, the aged Franklin produced
q paper which was read for him,
40 his voice was weak. Some parts
Of this constitution, he said, he did
not approve. But he was astonished
10 nnd it 80 nearly perfect. What
ever opinion he had of its errors
he would sacrifice to the public
good, and he hoped that every
member of the convention who
still had objections would on this
occasion doubt little of his own
infallibility. and for the sake Of
unanimity put his name to this in
strument. Hamilton added his
plea. A few members, he said, by
refu4ing to sign, might do infinite
mischief. No mans ideas could
be more remote from the plan than
his were known to be; but it was
possible for true patriot to DELHI
crate between anarchy and convul-
sion, on the one eide, and the
chance of good to be expected
from this plan, on the other? From
these appeals, as we'll as from
Washington's solemn warning at
the outset, We see how distinctly it
was realized that the country was
on the verge of civil war. Most Of
the members felt 80, but to some
the new government seemed far too
atrong, and there were three who
dreaded despotism even more than
anarchy. Mason, Randolph and
Gerry refused to sign, though Ran
dolph sought to qualify his refusal
by explaining that he could not
yet make up his mind whether to
oppose or defend the constitution
when it should be laid before the
people of Virginia. He wished to
reserve to himself full liberty of
action in the matter. That Mason
and Gerry, valuable as their SER
vices had been in the making of
the constitution, would now go
home and vigorously oppose it,
there was no doubt. OF the dele
gates who were present on the last
day of the convention, all but these
three signed the constitution. In
the signatures the twelve states
which had taken part in the work
were all represented, Hamilton
signing alone for New York.
Thus after four months of anxious
toll, through the whole of scorch-
ing Philadelphia summer, after
earnest but sometimes bitter dis
cussiOn, in which more than once
the meeting had seemed on the
point Of breaking up, colossal
work had al last been accomplished,
the results of which were most
powerfully to affect the whole flu
cure career of the human race so
long as it shall dwell upon the
earth. In spite of the high wrought
intensity of feeling which had been
now and then displayed, grave de-
corum had ruled the proceedings
and now, though few were really
satisfied, the approach to unanimi-
ty was remarkable. When all was
over, it lie said that many Of the
members seemed awe struck. Wash
ington sat with head bowed in SOL
emn meditation. The scene was
ended by a characteristic bit of
hemely pleasantly from Franklin.
Thirty-three years ago, in the days
Of George H., before the first NUT
terings of the revolution had been
heard, and when the French do
minion in America was untouched,
before the Punishment of the Aca-
dams or the rout of Braddock,
while Washington was still survey
ing lands in the wilderness, while
Madison was playing in the nur-
sery and Hamilton was not yet
born, Franklin had endeavored to
bring together the thirteen colonies
in a federation. Of the famous AL
bsny plan Of 1854, the first outline
of federal constitution for Amer
lea that ever was made, he was the
principal, il not the sole author.
When be signed his name to the
declaration of independence in this
very room, his years had rounded
the full period of threescore and
ten. Eleven years more had passed,
and he had been spared to see the
noble aim of his life accomplished.
There was still no doubt, chance
of failure, but hope reigned in the
old mans breast. On the back OF
the presidents quaint black arm
chair there was emblazoned half.
sun, brilliant with its gilded rays
As the meeting was about breaking
up and Washington arose, Frank
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